Hat-support for theater-seats.



No. 628,533. Patented .luly ll, I899.

E. J. GUENZEL. HAT SUPPORT FOR THEATER SEATS.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1898;

(No Modal.)

M, g lnjven'tor.

Attorneys U ITED STATES PATENT FFICE. I

ERNST J. GUENZEL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

HAT-SU PPORT FOR TH EATE R-SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,533, dated July 11, 1899.

' Application filed August 29, 1898. Serial No. 639,760. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST J. GUENZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hat-Supports for Theater- Seats, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hat-supports for theater-seats.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of support adapted to receive the hats worn by persons of either sex which will antomatically fold up when not in use and which may be still further folded by hand to facilitate cleaning the floor.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a side View of a theater-chair equipped with my invention, showing the same in position as it is when automatically folded, with dotted lines indicating its position when folded by hand. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the chair-seat, showing my invention as itappears when supporting a hat, with dotted lines indicating its position when automatically folded. Fig. 3 is a detail side view illustrating a form 'of metal holding-strap. Fig. 4. is a cross-sectional view of the hanger-bar drawn on line x a: of Fig. 2.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

The seat A of the theater-chair is provided on each side with a depending hanger-bar B,

which on one edge is cut and bent inwardly.

at O to form a'shoulder D. (Best shown in Fig. 4..) A shelf E, provided with upwardlycurved front and rear edges F, is suspended from the hangers B by means of links G, pivotally secured to the hangers and the seat on each side. The links G are also connected with the shelf by a yielding connection, such as a strap H, of leather or other flexible material, as shown in Fig. 2, or'a metallic toggle I, as shown in Fig. 3. The rear portion of the shelf is heavier than the front end, so that while the links G are attached to the rear half of the shelf its center of gravity will still be in the rear of the pivots. For this reason I provide the rear edge of the shelf with a metallic rod or weight J, which is secured permanently thereto and forms a part thereof,

although, if desired, the entire rear portion of the shelf may obviously be made of heavier or thicker material to accomplish the same purpose. The shelf is so poised upon its pivots thatthe shorter and heavier rear end will tilt downwardly when the front end is not occupied to fold the shelf, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, While the weight of even a light hat being principally exerted upon the longer front end of the shelf will serve to counterbalance the rear end and hold it in a horizontal position.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the shelf can be unfolded and a hat placed therein while the seat A is still in its raised position, and that as the seat is lowered the shelf retains its horizontal position thereunder. When the seat is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the shoulders D prevent the links G from swinging to the rear, and thus facilitate placing the hat upon the shelf.

When it is desired to sweep or clean the floor, the shelf may be swung with the links G to the reverse position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, the stops K engaging the links and causing them to swing with the shelf when the latter is grasped at the lower edge and pulled upwardly. When in the raised position, the shelf rests against the seat A, with its center of gravity in the rear of the pivots g, thus tending to remain in such position.

The shelf may obviously be made of any desirable material, and suitable cushions may be applied at the points of contact to prevent noise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The combination with a chair having a hinged seat; of a hat-supporting shelf pivot- 3. The combination of a chair having a/ hinged seat; of a hat-supporting shelf pivotally suspended therefrom; a weight adapted to tilt said shelf normally to a folded position;

and means for limiting the downward movement of the lighter side of said shelf when the latter is subjected to the weight of a hat.

4. The combination with a chair, having a hinged seat, of a hat-supporting shelf, links pivotally secured to the seat and shelf respectively, and adapted to support the latter, yielding connections between said links and the shelf at points outside of the plane of their pivotal attachment, and adaptedto limit the downward movement of the shelf on that side of the pivots, a weight secured to the shelf on the opposite side of the pivots from said connections and adapted to be counterpoised by a hat placed upon the shelf, or to automatically tilt the shelf to a folded position when the same is not in use.

5. The combination of a chair having a hinged seat, hangers depending therefrom, links pivotally secured to the hangers, a hatsupporting shelf pivotally secured to the links, yielding connections between said links and the shelf at points outside of the plane of their pivotal attachment, and adapted to limit the downward movement'of the shelf on that side of the pivot, a weight secured to the shelf on the opposite side of the pivots from said connections, and adapted to be counter poised by a hat placed upon the shelf, or to automatically tilt the shelf 1 to a folded position, when the same is not in use.

6. The combination with a chair having a hinged seat, of depending hangers secured thereto, and provided with laterally-projecting shoulders, links pivotally secured to the hangers and adapted to engage against said shoulders when the seat is in a raised position, a shelf pivotally secured to the links, yielding connections between said links and the shelf at points outside of the plane of their pivotal attachment and adapted to limit the downward movement of the shelf on that side of the pivots, a weight secured to the shelf on the opposite side of the pivots from said connections, and adapted to be counterpoised by a hat placed upon the shelf, or to automaticallytilt the shelf to a folded position when the same is not in use.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of August, 1898.

ERNST J. GUENZEL.

lVitnesses:

LEVERETT 0. WHEELER, F. A. O'rro. 

